{Identification of Short Cycles}[29th December 1990]

[Redbook8:159][19901229:1210b]{Identification of Short Cycles}[29th December 1990]

19901229:1210

[continued]

In summary, without chronologically accurate records (to within a year or two) it is not possible to distinguish short (eg 64-year) historical cycles.* Larger cycles (eg 1024, 2048 years) may still be identifiable.

*This is mainly because without such records it is virtually impossible to distinguish the ‘internal’ nature of political and military events, which is what is differentiated on the C[ircles] A[nalysis] & S[ynthesis] cycle. <901230>

[PostedBlogger20012023]

{Mycenean Lions}[29th December 1990]

[Redbook8:159][19901229:1210]{Mycenean Lions}[29th December 1990]

19901229:1210

‘The wall-circuit at Mycenae* is entered through the monumental Lion Gate, so called from the two lions, set heraldically [sic] either side of a central pillar, carried above the lintel.’

**

The opposition of Mycenaean lions to Cretan bulls*** is interesting.

*(Late Bronze Age II, 1450-1100bce, Aegean)

** – E[ncylopaedia of] V[isual] A[rt] 1: 98

***[ref last entry but one, [Redbook8:159][19901228:1517c]{Minoan Symbols [continued] – Goddesses, Bulls etc}[28th December 1990]]

[PostedBlogger18for19012023]

{Minoan Symbols [continued (3)] – Death and Resurrection in Minoan Crete}[28th December 1990]

[Redbook8:159][19901228:1517d]{Minoan Symbols [continued (3)] – Death and Resurrection in Minoan Crete}[28th December 1990]

19901228.1517

[continued]

‘A class of gold signet rings has oval bezels engraved with ritual scenes that may be from the story of a goddess and her consort, with his death and resurrection.’

– ibid [Encyclopaedia Britannica 20: 233]

[PostedBlogger18012023]

{Minoan Symbols [continued] – Goddesses, Bulls etc}[28th December 1990]

[Redbook8:159][19901228:1517c]{Minoan Symbols [continued] – Goddesses, Bulls etc}[28th December 1990]

19901228.1517

[continued]

‘Many of the pictures, especially those from the palace at Knossos,* were concerned with religion and show elaborately dressed goddesses, together with sacred dances and ceremonies, such as bull[-]leaping, which may have had a religious or magical basis.’

*

‘A number of cult vases are carved with pictures in relief, including an octopus, a mountain shrine, a ritual dance of some kind, and games, such as bull-leaping, wrestling, and boxing, which appear to have had magical or religious connotations.’

**

* – ibid [Encyclopaedia Britannica 20], 233

** – ibid [Encyclopaedia Britannica 20: 233]

[continued]

[PostedBlogger16for17012023]

{Minoan Symbols}[28th December 1990]

[Redbook8:158][19901228:1517b]{Minoan Symbols}[28th December 1990]

19901228.1517

[continued]

‘Cretan seal designs now* included elegant abstract patterns incorporating spirals and concentric circles neatly made with the drill, as well as lifelike pictures of animals, birds and insects, together with mythical beasts, such as sphinxes and griffins adapted from Egyptian or Oriental models.’

– E[ncyclopaedia] B[ritannica] 20:231

*Period of the Early Palaces in Crete, c2200-1700[bce]

[continued]

[PostedBlogger16012023]

{The Temple}[28th December 1990]

[Redbook8:158][19901228:1517]{The Temple}[28th December 1990]

19901228.1517

‘The ground-plan of the Temple* – a porch with two free-standing pillars before it, a sanctuary, and an inner sanctum – followed Syrian and Phoenician sanctuary models. A bronze “sea”** resting on bulls** and placed in the Temple court has a Babylonian analogue. Exteriorly,*** the Jerusalem Temple resembled Canaanite and other Middle Eastern religious structures, but there were differences: eg no god image stood in the inner sanctum, but rather only the ancient ark [of the covenant] and the new large cherubim**** (hybrid creatures with animal bodies, human or animal faces, and wings) whose wings covered it, symbolising the presence of YHWH, who was enthroned upon celestial cherubim.’

– E[ncyclopaedia] B[ritannica] 22:406

*(of Solomon)

**

***[sic, source]

****

[PostedBlogger12for15012023]

{Mesopotamian Muddle}[25th December 1990]

[Redbook8:157][19901225:0040]{Mesopotamian Muddle}[25th December 1990]

(24)

25.0040

Back* to Ancient Mesopotamia – at least after 1450bce, when dating is supposed to become accurate, some sort of smaller-scale (eg 64-year period) pattern should be visible, despite interference.

There are hints of the 64-year cycle from c1280bce onwards; but my record** is still patchy, and the pattern is not terribly convincing.

*[See last previous entry but one, &ant]

**[On [[Redbook8:44-67][19901027ff]{Comparative Chronology}[27th October 1990],], presumably]

[PostedBlogger12for14012023]

{Madonna}[24th December 1990]

[Redbook8:157][19901224:2322c]{Madonna}[24th December 1990]

.2322

[continued]

I was interested to watch Madonna’s concert (in Barcelona) on television* – a lady for whom, after seeing her interviewed recently, I have quite a lot of time:** many of her acts were highly reminiscent of 1920s *** and early 1930s Germany, which is just what you would expect.**** They are miles away from what I grew up with in the [nineteen-]sixties.#

*BBC2[TV]

**{! Pompous ass}

***S~

{ie 64Cs: 1920[,] 1984}

****[ie from the C[ircles] A[nalysis] & S[ynthesis] pattern, not from the singer]

#G~

[PostedBlogger12for13012023]

{Mesopotamian Long Cycles [continued]}[24th December 1990]

[Redbook8:157][19901224:2322b]{Mesopotamian Long Cycles [continued]}[24th December 1990]

.2322

[continued]

Be that* as it may, both charts** suggest a break (and a ‘blank’ record) around 2048 in Mesoptamia, giving a 2048 year cycle (2048bce-0ce) within which both North and South Mesopotanian civilisations fit, from c[irca] C–S~ to loss of independence at G~.

Up to 2048bce is*** Sumer and Akkad (and Ur); from c2048bce are Babylonia and Assyria (including the Hurri and Mitanni), but quietly at first.

But on a smaller scale than this, the ‘pattern’**** is confused: it is difficult to interpret the quality of events, which is partly a problem of scaling, and I assume that this arises from the interference of many cycles on many scales in what was then the ‘cockpit’ of the World.

*[See last previous entry]

**ref [[Redbook8:28-29][19901015:1710]{Four Thousand Years BC[E]}*[15th October 1990],] 28-29,

[[Redbook8:44-67][19901027ff]{Comparative Chronology}[27th October 1990],] 44ff

***[sic – Sumer & Akkad was a single royal title]

****[Presumably, the C[ircles] A[nalysis] & S[ynthesis] pattern (if any)]

[PostedBlogger12012023]

{Mesopotamian Long Cycles}[24th December 1990]

[Redbook8:156-157][19901224:2322]{Mesopotamian Long Cycles}[24th December 1990]

.2322

The narrative of history in ancient Mesopotamia* is even more confused on the more recent, larger scale chart** than on the earlier one.***

There are occasional |indications of|**** clusters which might be significant, eg of ‘internal’ dissension at G~ degrees and significant breaks at C, but not enough to provide a clear pattern.

For shorter periods, eg 64 years, dating is too inaccurate until 1450bce at the earliest.

For longer periods, it may be significant that c2500-1500[bce] is described# as a period of almost continual clashes between separatist forces. Such a long period, c1000 years, suggests part of a very long (in historical terms) cycle: at least 4096 years (¼, ie 1/8th each way), perhaps 8192 years (1/8th). If the 4096 year cycle C is at 0ce, c2048bce (the centre of the unsettled 1000 years) is 4096 year A~; if the 8192#* year cycle C is at 0ce, 2048bce is 8192#* year G~.#* *

*ref [[Redbook8:31-32][19901015:1017b]{4,000 Years BC[E] – Commentary (1) [continued]}[15th October 1990],] 31

**ref [[Redbook8:44-67][19901027ff]{Comparative Chronology}[27th October 1990],] 47-59;

*** [ref [Redbook8:28-29][19901015:1710]{Four Thousand Years BC[E]}*[15th October 1990],] 29

****[Words between | & | inserted in ms]

#(per E[ncyclopaedia] B[ritannica])

#*[Ms has 8196, clearly a mistake for 8192]

#**See [[Redbook8:44-67][19901027ff]{Comparative Chronology}[27th October 1990],] 50-54 for spread.

[continued]

[PostedBlogger11012023]

{The Wheeled Man of Hochdorf}[24th December 1990]

[Redbook8:156][19901224:1035d]{The Wheeled Man of Hochdorf}[24th December 1990]

19901224.1035

[continued]

‘At Hochdorf near Stuttgart, Germany, in a very recent find, the body of a man lay on a bronze couch supported by eight bronze figures with raised arms, each standing on a single wheel.’

*

* – ibid [Encylopaedia of Visual Art 1:] 92

(‘Hallstatt’ period, immediately preceding mid-5th century bce)

[PostedBlogger09for10012023]

{The Strettweg Cult-Wagon}[24th December 1990]

[Redbook8:154A-155A][19901224:1035c]{The Strettweg Cult-Wagon}[24th December 1990]

19901224.1035

[continued]

[A photocopy of a double-page spread consisting of two whole pages from the Encylopaedia of Visual Art 1:90-91 headed ‘ The Strettweg Cult-wagon’ is inserted at pp 154-155 in the ms. None of the text is highlighted, annotated &c]

[PostedBlogger09012023]

{Cycles of History in an Integrated World}[24th December 1990]

[Redbook8:153][19901224:1035b]{Cycles of History in an Integrated World}[24th December 1990]

19901224.1035

[continued]

If it is correct that the C[ircles] A[nalysis] & S[ynthesis] pattern is more clearly visible in history in societies which are relatively insulated from outside interference (though not necessarily from outside contact), this must have implications for the pattern of history in a future integrated, internationally peaceful and relatively unified World.

[PostedBlogger07for08012023]

{The Trundholm Sun-Disk}[24th December 1990]

[Redbook8:153][19901224:1035]{The Trundholm Sun-Disk}[24th December 1990]

19901224.1035

‘The two faces of the disk have different patterns of concentric circles, running spirals, loops and zig-zags; but one face also has a thin gold sheet pressed onto it so that it takes the pattern. Horse and disk were mounted on wheels for the purpose of enacting the movement of the Sun across the heavens in the cosmic drama of day and night, the whirling, spiralling patterns representing the Sun in splendor.’

*

I certainly wouldn’t argue with the claim that this is a sun-disk; but I find the pattern, which is after all not visible in or around the Sun, interesting as a possible expression of the age-old themes of the Unconscious.

Of course, in the first instance, anyone could say the same about my work.

* – E[ncylopaedia of] V[isual] A[rt] 1: 86 (Bronze Age: Denmark)

[PostedBlogger07012023]